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What killed the Long EZ?

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Cougar68:
Okay, maybe killed is too strong a word since so many are out there flying.  What I'm trying to understand is why there aren't more under construction these days and the popularity seems to be waning.  We now live in a land full of rivet and fly RV's when composites once seemed to be the future. 

I'm gearing up for building a Long myself and trying to figure out if maybe there's a hidden gotcha that I need to know about.  From my research it seems to be relatively simple (although time consuming) to construct, economical, fast, and most importantly it looks cool as heck sitting on the ramp.  I know after RAF folded that plans were worth their weight in gold, but I would think with the Open EZ project that we would see a rise in the number of Long's out there.

So was it the closing of RAF?  Burt announcing that he would no longer support or authorize any builder even with original plans? The price of second hand plans?  Uncertainty about the Open EZ project?  The John Denver crash?  A shift in thought that decided aluminum construction was the best way to go? (after seeing strength demos I just can't believe this one) Or is there some other reason that I'm missing?

Linda:
Plans are going for around $700.00 give or take a few.  That is for a new COMPLETE set. You can find them on the internet, Central States, and Canard Aviators from those individual trying to sell as they have changed there mind.
Long live the Long-EZ the best plans built plane around.

LongEZDaveA:
The main thing in my opinion is the time to build.  You could probably build a few RVs out of the quick build kits in the time it takes to build a Long EZ.  Building a Long EZ is much more of a time commitment than I could imagine when I started building.  It's all worth it to me in my O-235 Long when I'm in a SARL race and pass up an RV with an O-360 in it!!!

Bruce Hughes:
Hi Cougar

The time required is a big factor.  Another is the possibility of making serious errors
that will haunt or kill you.  I have done over many, many things (which adds a little
weight each time).  You MUST have some expert help from other builders who know
what they are doing.   As so many pilots have a lot more experience with aluminum,
composite experts are not so abundant.   We can give you names, depending on'
where you live.   Which is ?

If properly built, the Longeze should be safer; the Longeze will take a lot of Gs.

DON'T make changes in the plans unless you are an aeronautical engineer.  I did that
and had to go back to the plan configuration every time.

Bruce Hughes   :)

Rick Hall:

--- Quote from: Cougar68 on January 11, 2011, 08:12:44 PM ---... I'm gearing up for building a Long myself ...
--- End quote ---
  ;D  ;D

--- Quote ---... and trying to figure out if maybe there's a hidden gotcha that I need to know about. ...
--- End quote ---

Threat of a lawsuit can cost big bux, even if the suit is w/o merit. I can't fault RAF in the least for getting out of the 'consumer' business. There's still support for canards, this forum is but one example.

1) The "spam can" boyz can tell a good rivet job from a bad one, there's even a gauge they can use to prove it. 2) Many, if not all, of the metal bits come pre/match drilled from the factory, assembly is often "Insert tab A into slot B"...

A) How can you tell a good fiberglass layup from a bad one, there is no gauge. B) Some people are allergic to epoxy, others have no desire to work with cloth/foam/resin.

Rick

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